15.

9 Australia Day
On 26 January each year, Australians enjoy a public There are many different perspectives about the
holiday in celebration of Australia Day. value of Australia Day. Some think we do not need a
Australia Day is the anniversary of the First Fleet’s national day, while others believe it is inappropriate
arrival in Sydney Cove in 1788. This was the first to celebrate Australia on the day our country was
official voyage from Britain and involved eleven ships colonised by Britain (see 15B Rich task on page 396).
carrying convicts and supplies sailing to Australia to One of the most important ideas on Australia Day
establish a colony here. is that we celebrate the way our country has changed.
On Australia Day, many of us will attend an event Today, Australia Day celebrations are as varied and
or gathering with family and friends. Some of us will diverse as the many cultures and people that take part.
organise barbeques and pool parties with friends,
some of us will watch Australia Day fireworks, and Australian of the Year
others will just enjoy the day off and relax at home.
On 25 January (the eve of Australia Day) every year,
Yet Australia Day is not just about what we can do to
the following awards of Australian citizenship are
with a day off.
announced in Canberra:
• Australian of the Year, which celebrates the
What is Australia Day for? achievement of Australian citizens who inspire us
Australia’s Day exists to celebrate being Australian through their work
and living in Australia. It is an opportunity to think • Senior Australian of the Year, which celebrates
about our past and to consider how we will continue Australians aged 65 and over who continue to
to live as Australians in the future. achieve and make a difference

Source 1 Australia Day fireworks over Swan River, Perth.

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 15B What does it mean to be an Australian citizen?

• Young Australian of the Year, which celebrates Citizenship ceremonies

young people between 16 and 30 years old who
have already accomplished great things through Migrants to Australia can choose to become citizens
their contribution to society after living in Australia for a certain period of time
• Australia’s Local Hero, which celebrates people and meeting certain requirements. The final stage
making a difference in their local community. of becoming an Australian citizen is the citizenship
These awards act to celebrate and thank Australian ceremony. The ceremony gives our new citizens the
citizens who have gone above and beyond their usual opportunity to take the Australian Citizenship Pledge
responsibilities as citizens. (see Source 3) and the Australian government the
chance to welcome and celebrate its new citizens.
In Western Australia, local governments around
While these citizenship ceremonies can happen
the state announce their Citizen of the Year Awards.
throughout the year, those on Australia day are seen
These awards give local communities around the
as particularly special.
state the chance to recognise citizens who help or
improve their community in some way. Source 3 The Australian Citizenship Pledge

‘From this time forward, I pledge my loyalty

to Australia and its people, whose democratic
beliefs I share, whose rights and liberties
I respect, and whose laws I will uphold
and obey.’

The citizenship ceremony is considered to be a

special tradition of Australia Day because Australian
citizenship symbolises our shared identity, which
brings us together in our values and traditions. On
Australia Day, we celebrate the fact that people want
to be a part of our nation’s identity and our future.
Once a person becomes an Australian citizen, they
take on the rights and responsibilities that come
with it. For example, they can vote in elections, run
for election to government, travel using an Australian
passport and experience the freedoms of living as
Source 2 Rosie Batty won Australian of the Year in 2015 for her an Australian.
campaign against domestic violence.

Check your learning 15.9

Remember and understand 5 Suggest three ways you might celebrate Australia Day.

1 What is Australia Day and why do we celebrate on Evaluate and create

26 January? 6 Do you think Australia Day is important? Write 150
2 How do local governments in Western Australia words on why you think we should or should not
recognise the achievements of its citizens on celebrate our national day.
Australia Day? 7 Think of someone you know of that you think
3 Why do we have citizenship ceremonies in Australia? deserves to be nominated for Australian of the
Apply and analyse Year or another one of our Australia Day awards.
Write a letter to your local government that outlines
4 Why might Australians celebrate Australia Day in the reasons why you think this person is a special
different ways? Australian and deserves to be celebrated.

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 15B rich task

#ChangeTheDate
Australia Day is the most significant day of
Australia’s national identity. It is marked by a
public holiday in all states and is a time when
many people get together to celebrate the
wonderful lifestyle this country has to offer.
For some, however, celebrating Australia Day
on 26 January is both offensive and wrong.
They form part of a growing number of
people who are demanding that we change
the date of Australia Day.

Source 1 People who are sympathetic to the plight of

The date, 26 January, is the anniversary of the arrival
Indigenous Australians feel that 26 January represents British
of the First Fleet of British ships at Port Jackson, New invasion of the continent.
South Wales in 1788. It marks the beginning of British
rule of the Australian continent, and as a result, it is a
day of great sorrow for Indigenous Australians. It was
first celebrated in 1934 when people of European
ethnicity formed a vast majority of the Australian
population. Today, however, Australia is a far more
multicultural society and has recognised many of the
injustices experienced by Indigenous Australians as a
consequence of the First Fleet’s arrival. Many people
believe that the date should be changed to something
more respectful. They also believe that celebrating
‘Invasion Day’ goes against the values we want for our
society.
People opposed to changing the date argue that it
has become an important tradition that forms part of
the Australian identity. Many of them believe that the
nation we live in today was shaped by the arrival of the
First Fleet and it should be remembered. People across
Australia are exercising their democratic rights to voice
their opinion on this divisive debate. Source 2 Many Australians are happy to celebrate the Australia
Day public holiday on 26 January with a great sense of patriotism.

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 15B What does it mean to be an Australian citizen?

skilldrill

Civic engagement: writing a • Sign off the letter with ‘Sincerely’ and your full name
below it.
letter to your local member of • Wait for a response and contact them again if you have
parliament or the prime minister not heard from them after a month.

In our democracy, the role of politicians is to represent Apply the skill

the people’s opinions, concerns and interests. One way Write a letter to your local member of parliament or the
of ensuring your opinion is heard is by directly contacting prime minister discussing why you feel that the date on
your local member of parliament or the prime minister which we celebrate Australia Day should or shouldn’t
through an email or letter. Here are some tips: be changed. You may also wish to include whether 26
January should be recognised as a day of mourning, or
• Before you write, research the topic that you are
propose a new date on which to celebrate Australia Day.
concerned about and make note of really important
facts that will support your view.
• Make sure you use the correct title, for example, Extend your understanding
Ms Joanna Smith MP.
• Introduce yourself and the reason why you are writing. 1 Using the Internet or an Australian calendar, make a
list of all of the public holidays celebrated in Western
• Politely write in your own words the main points you
Australia.
wish to share with the politician.
2 Research the historic significance of the days and
• Explain what you would like them to do about
identify how they are portrayed in the media and in
the issue.
popular culture.
3 How do these days form part of our national identity?

m.

Source 3 Soldiers march through Melbourne on Anzac Day in memorial uniform each year on 25 April, a public holiday that is
celebrated across Australia.

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